Honey, Sugar or Sweeteners – Which One is Healthier?

Adding sugar in foods is bad for your silhouette and health – it starts from weight gain and could lead to heart disease and diabetes. Even honey has disadvantages if it is consumed excessively, and sweeteners, although they are low in calories, should be carefully chosen.

Honey can cause digestive problems

It has 22 calories per teaspoon and is often used to soften cereals, teas or cakes. The advantage is that honey contains many enzymes secreted by bees, minerals (potassium, calcium and phosphorus) and vitamins. Studies suggest that glucose and fructose are absorbed more slowly by the body, which is a beneficial thing. However, honey is clearly a source of sugars. That is why it should be used less frequently by people who have insulin resistance.

If you exceed 10 teaspoons a day, it can cause you some inconvenience, such as stomach cramps, bloating and diarrhea. Honey, compared to white sugar, contains more calories per teaspoonful. And if you try to lose weight or suffer from diabetes, it might not be a good option.

Sugar gives you short-term energy

A healthier choice than white sugar is the brown one because it contains more essential nutrients. In fact, the brown version is less processed and has about the same energy input: one teaspoon of white sugar has 16 calories and one teaspoon of brown sugar has 17 calories. But regardless of color, excessive consumption of sugar causes many health problems.

The human body has problems when it has to break down glucose. That is why the level of insulin will be very high during these short periods of time, making you feel more energetic and stronger. Shortly after reaching the “peak”, lowering your insulin will make you feel hungry and long for even more sweets.

Sweeteners don’t fully satisfy your appetite

When you want to keep your silhouette, you can enjoy the sweet taste of the food without resorting to sugar. This is one of the benefits of sweeteners, natural or artificial. The second category is synthetic chemicals that stimulate sweet taste receptors on the tongue. Variants such as xylitol or sorbitol offer few calories, so many people turn to them when they want to maintain their weight.

But a big disadvantage is that artificial sweeteners can indirectly lead to bigger appetites. Because they are not real sugars, but variants obtained in the lab, they may not fully satisfy your appetite for a dessert. For this reason, some people eat more sweets even though if they are choosing low-calorie sweeteners.